Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Tour: Feed & Walk Rescued Elephants

The elephants set the pace, when they stop to forage or mud-bathe, so do you.

Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve is a guided tour in Phuket where you meet four rescued elephants, feed them, walk through the forest on their terms, and watch them play in the pond while you eat a vegetarian meal. The reserve doesn't follow a fixed route. The elephants roam freely and you move with them, stopping at Bamboo Observation Huts along the way. Hotel pickup is included for Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata and Karon. The tour runs about three and a half hours with an English-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Elephant reserve visit and forest walk

• Enjoy complimentary refreshments
• Watch introduction video
• Meet and feed elephants
• Take scenic forest walk
• Relax in Bamboo Observation Huts
• Watch elephants bathe and graze
• Enjoy vegetarian Thai buffet lunch

The experience

You start with complimentary refreshments and an introduction video that explains the elephants' rescue histories and individual personalities. Then you meet them in person and feed them before heading into the forest. Unlike typical elephant tours where a guide leads you on a set path, this one follows the elephants' own rhythm. They decide where to go, what to eat, and when to stop. You move with them through the trees, pausing at Bamboo Observation Huts positioned along the way where you can sit quietly and watch them graze, play in mud or bathe in the streams nearby. The views stretch across the forest valley toward Big Buddha.

When the group reaches the pond, the elephants wade in to splash and cover themselves in mud while you settle in at a bamboo sala overlooking the water. A freshly cooked vegetarian Thai buffet (no dairy, eggs or fish) is served there, and you eat while the elephants continue their day in the water below. The whole visit is built around the idea that these animals have had hard lives and deserve to move and behave naturally, not to perform or follow a schedule made for tourists. Your entrance fee directly supports the reserve's rescue and rehabilitation work.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata or Karon. You'll travel by air-conditioned van with your English-speaking guide. Refill water is provided. The forest trails are not wheelchair accessible, and baby strollers aren't allowed. If you're bringing an infant, a baby carrier is required. The tour isn't recommended for people with spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, or recent surgery, though it suits all other fitness levels.

What’s included

• Complimentary refreshments on arrival.
• educational introduction video.
• meeting and feeding the four elephants.
• guided forest walk following the elephants' natural movements.
• access to Bamboo Observation Huts.
• vegetarian Thai buffet lunch with no dairy, eggs, fish or oyster sauce.
• entrance ticket to the reserve.
• refill water.
• air-conditioned van transport.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off for guests in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata and Karon.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in English09:30

Guide in English14:00

Guide in English14:00

Guide in English09:30

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:00

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (under 12)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Discova Thailand

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to spend time with elephants on their own terms rather than following a fixed itinerary: the guide stops when the elephants stop, and you move at their pace through the forest. It's the right fit if you're interested in learning the rescue stories behind each elephant and supporting ethical sanctuary work, and if you can walk forest trails and stand for periods during the morning or afternoon session.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What do the four elephants at Hidden Forest Elephant Reserve do all day?

All four elephants are rescues from the tourism riding industry and now roam freely across the reserve's land. They graze, forage, socialise with each other, play in ponds and streams, and cover themselves in mud wallows throughout the day, and you follow their movements on the tour instead of a set route.

Can I bathe or swim with the elephants on this tour?

No, bathing with the elephants is not part of this tour. You watch them bathe and play in the pond from the bamboo sala while you eat lunch, but direct contact in the water is not included.

Where does the tour pick me up, and what areas does it cover?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying in Patong, Chalong, Nai Harn, Kata or Karon. You'll travel by air-conditioned van with your guide. If your hotel is outside these zones, you can still book the tour but will need to arrange your own transport to the reserve.

Is the vegetarian meal suitable for people with dietary restrictions?

The meal is a vegetarian Thai buffet with no dairy, eggs, fish or oyster sauce. If you have other allergies or dietary needs beyond vegan, contact the reserve before booking to confirm what can be accommodated.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about three and a half hours from start to finish, including the introduction video, meeting and feeding the elephants, the forest walk, observation time at the Bamboo Huts, and lunch at the pond.

What should I bring or wear for the forest walk?

Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for forest trails and bring a camera for photo opportunities. The forest trails are not wheelchair accessible, and the terrain requires you to be able to walk and stand for periods during the tour.